Property owners discuss methods to improve tenants’ living conditions

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Property owners discuss methods to improve tenants’ living conditions

Jeffrey Murphy, a division manager for the City of Evanston, discusses landlord obligations and organizations. The landlord training workshop was held Thursday night at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Lan Nguyen/The Daily Northwestern

Jeffrey Murphy, a division manager for the City of Evanston, discusses landlord obligations and organizations. The landlord training workshop was held Thursday night at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Lan Nguyen/The Daily Northwestern

Lan Nguyen/The Daily Northwestern

Jeffrey Murphy, a division manager for the City of Evanston, discusses landlord obligations and organizations. The landlord training workshop was held Thursday night at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

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Evanston officials and property owners gathered Thursday night to discuss nonprofit programs that landlords can use to improve living conditions for their tenants.

The speakers met for a landlord training workshop at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. They represented programs that will allow interested landlords to assist families in need and promote energy efficiency within their units.

The officials reminded the owners of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits a landlord from turning down potential tenants based on their income. Many people of lower income use housing vouchers issued by the government to pay their rent.

Brendan Saunders, who works for fair housing group Open Communities, expressed support for the law.

“You cannot deny someone housing because they have a housing voucher,” Saunders said. “Housing vouchers are actually beneficial because it guarantees that your rent will be paid.”

Saunders warned landlords about investigators who make sure tenants are not being denied based on how they pay for their housing.

The speakers also introduced Connections for the Homeless, an Evanston-based nonprofit organization that provides homeless families with rental assistance while they work toward self-sufficiency.

“Close to 200 children in our district are considered homeless,” said Mary Ellen Poole, the city’s housing planner. “It has become a priority of the city to help stabilize their lives.”

The organization has committed $500,000 to help at least 30 households over three years.